You thought I have dropped this again, didn’t you? The truth is that I was simply trying to find the best way to blog this series, and I think I found it. Since the world of To Aru Majutsu no Index is about levels, it is also time to rank the characters every single episode. Sure, this idea isn’t new around, but it is appropriate just for an anime like this.

We will be using the FAYE % gauge to evaluate the greatness of each character in this episode.

Touma

Overall grade:

1. Did not make fun of Index during phone call = -3% Faye
2. Owned Stiyl Magnus by calling him a jealous pig = 5% Faye
3. Wanted to save the megane girl = 1% Faye
4. Was unable to do it and waited for the pain to arrive = -2% Faye
5. Lost to the Green haired Alchemist, and could not even fight back = -10% Faye
6. Lost his memory after the Alchemist attack, but sheer GAR power restored it = 10% Faye
6. Punched Stiyl Magnus to make him remember what happened too = 8% Faye

Total = 9% Faye (Low level powers of FAYE)

Index

1. DFC fanservice = 15% Faye
2. Did absolutely nothing for 18 minutes of anime = -10% Faye
3. Got knocked out for the countless time in this series = -10% Faye

Total = -5% Faye (Very weak FAYE within, might have hope to turn into FAYE after 1000 years)

Gregorian Choir

1. So generic FAKE choir = -20% Faye
2. They actually turn into light spheres = 1% Faye

Total = -19% Faye (Is too unFAYE to be ranked)

Megane Girl

1. Glasses are moe = 5% Faye
2. Does not even flinch when she’s cut all over = 10% Faye
3. Is such a minor character but is able to be cooler than most of the other characters = 5% Faye

Total = 20% Faye (The power of FAYE is in this one)

Himegami Ais

1. Extremely moe with her cold humor = 15% Faye
2. Miko clothing always rocks = 10% Faye
3. Uses a tazer as a mahou shoujo weapon = 5% Faye
4. Totally saved Touma’s ass = 5% Faye
5. Ranted on some silly backstory about vampires that Impz did not care = -5% Faye

Total = 35% Faye (Extremely powerful character. Has half the ability of FAYE)

Stiyl Magnus

1. Keeps getting owned in this episode. He must like being raped = -30% Faye

Total = -30% Faye (Is too unFAYE to be ranked)

Aureolus

1. Powers include stabbing himself in the neck = 5% Faye
2. Is so stereotypically evil that it is boring = -10% Faye
3. Wiped out the party almost too easily = 5%
4. Has power over Miko hottie = 10%

Total = 10% Faye (Low level powers of FAYE)

The Real Gregorian Choir

1. Looked all cool but completely useless = -20% Faye

Total = -19% Faye (Is too unFAYE to be ranked)

The world came crushing down on Touma after he realizes that he has spent three precious days dreaming about how he is going to molest Index before she forgets about it. The time left for Index before the magicians of Necessarius cleaned her memory with a ritual. However, he still has a few more hours to do so. Will Touma be able to get it done before Index is forced to wash her memories away?

Let Impz present the pictorial abridged summary of what happened in Episode 5 .

What should I do? She’s asleep. It’s the best chance I got!

You only have up to midnight to find a way to do it with her. Or else, we will do it instead.

I understand. I will fix this. I will never let you get her first time!

Actually, we already took her first time. And her second. And her third. How many did we take already?

What? Just when I need advice whether I can do this, that chain smoking loli is not around?

By the way, your time is up. We are coming over to do it with Index.

She’s ready for it, Kansaki.

If you don’t want us to do it to her, destroy the cross and do it yourself. You have ten minutes before we do it for ourselves. Trust me, it hurts us to do it since we are already sick of doing it to Index.

How am I going to do it with her? I don’t know how to do it. It’s my virgin time!

Don’t worry, Touma. Be gentle on me.

I’m ready to always keep you happy, even if I will die from your attempt to do me.

However, if I really try to do it with you now, you might die.

I better get last minute advice from the chain-smoking loli. She seems more experienced with such things.

I don’t see any issues with you trying to do it at all, Kamijou-chan.

The human mind is definitely capable of doing it, since it has the capacity to contain such willpower. You should be able to do it, but why are you asking this question?

All right, I got to do it. Where’s the sweet spot though? I have not tried it before.

All right, I don’t think it’s there. Even though I really want to touch her delicious flat chest.

All right, I guess there’s no choice but to do it right now. There’s no choice at all!

I will penetrate her using my devil right hand. Even though it might hurt her, I must do it.

Yes, I can feel it. I am getting close to full penetration!

Oh god, have I PENETRATED her so hard that her defense mechanism has been triggered?

P/s: By the way, do it to her = to fix her memory. If you think anything else, you are an idiot. Try to prove me wrong that this is NOT a faithful and accurate summary of Episode 5.

Some of you might have wondered at the non-existence of a Ga-rei Zero in THAT. That is because I am simmering with the anger due to the extremely mediocre 4th episode. I wonder if my quipped expectation has resulted in a warped view when they start to act up like the typical shounen fare that I am particularly turned off.

Some of the things that I mentioned might be the exact same things that turn people ON for a shounen show. However, I expected better. There are a few spoilers after the break. In addition, I might blog Kuroshitsuji instead rather than To Aru Majutsu no Index since it interests me much more. It’s also a strain on my time to blog Index as it lands on one of my few free days during the week. I am likely to do a short post on it every Wednesday if it’s all right with those who are following it.

Ga-Rei Zero Episode 4

Episode 4 develops the relationship between Yomi and Kagura in terms of bonding and trust. During one of the missions, Kagura wondered when she would be thrust into the main action, but Yomi told her to be patient. While the spirit was destroyed, there was also a civilian who was loitering around the area. She was able to see the spirit, and Kagura saved her from being attacked by the monster. Yomi noted that women with spiritual powers were more likely to attract attacks. Yomi also told the woman subtly to value her life.

After the mission, the weapon smith in charge of their weapons decided to maintain the squad’s weapons. Ayame hence decided to give Kagura her first actual mission. This is a mission in the subway. We see that the civilian has committed suicide and turned into a mindless level D spirit. Kagura was unable to draw her weapon, and was saved by her father. Kagura was reprimanded by her father sternly, yet her father muttered “grow stronger” to her before he left.

What went wrong

In an episode, you usually try to look at the reason for the episode to exist. Episode 1 is meant to shock and confuse the audience. It is also done to make the viewers anticipate the eventual appearance of Yomi in Episode 2. Of course, Episode 2 is done to set up the main characters for the series. Episode 3 slows down the pace by introducing each person. WHAT DID EPISODE 4 DO? Nothing, absolutely nothing. I already know from episode 3 that the two are friendly with each other. There is absolutely nothing new or fresh that I didn’t know. Is this what they call a “pointless filler?”

I am getting more ticked off by the actions of Kagura. I probably have a very short attention span but I am getting a major issue with Kagura. She is a clear dependent, one that I really HATE in a shounen show. They always make the women so mentally weak that she is unable to do anything in any critical situation. I know she can cut monsters with ease, but what is with the “they are formerly humans” when they are going to fricking cut you up? I admit that I am just the type of anime viewer that will STOP watching a series when the main girl turns me off, and Kagura is really straining my patience.

Another thing that turned me off are the blatant attempts to squeeze some fanservice into this series. Can someone tell me if there is any other explicit and logical reason for this screenshot other than the fact to entice people to buy the DVD so that they can show the nipples of the two? I don’t find fanservice in shounen shows because it is sometimes necessary. However, I cannot accept any obvious case of fanservice that makes no sense. Sure, it makes the desperate ecchi-loving fanboy happy, but I am not that typical group. I want my character development, good action and great fun in general. Not this pathetic attempt to insert random yuri fanservice.

Talking about fanservice, what is with the amazing tentacle erotic scene. I am not sure if it is supposed to be erotic or scary, but it did not evoke any of those two emotions in me. I mean… why is there such “subtle” ero content in a series that started off so darn well?

The only redeeming factor in Ga-Rei Zero is Yomi. Yomi is the type of character that always make a shounen show watchable, and I probably cannot stand the time where Kagura starts to be a total emo wreck when Yomi transforms into the devilish spirit three years later. Of course, I am not dropping this seriesas because I believe that the potential for it is very strong.

For those who found Episode 4 to be great, please give me a concrete reason behind the excellence of this episode.

All right, Impz has finally sold out to the masses by blogging the 3rd episode of Index. Well, sold out might be adding quite a bit of an exaggeration because I am actually enjoying this series quite a lot.

Anyway, a recap of last episode is due. Last week, Index collapsed with a huge blood wound. Toma, as usual, shows his extremely gar side to kick the ass out of the seemingly evil goth magician punk, Style Magnus. The only way to save Index is to find a non-psychic user. How do you find that in a psychic town? Find the loli, of course!

Wait, you want me to give you the breath of life? But… but…. yada!!!

Index got hurt where it hurts the most, and required Komoe to do some magic ritual to close her wounds. After confirming the time they are in (where I have no clue why it is so bloody important), Index started to construct an altar. This altar is set up as a representation of the room in order to stimulate the senses of magic.

I mean, in order to reach role play healing orgasm, you got to make it more realistic. Wait a minute…

It’s my first time… so don’t be scared if I bleed too much.

Of course, Komoe being the rational adult, said that the best course of action is to get an ambulance. Index told her rational brain to shut up, and added that her wounds cannot be healed by normal means.

Well done, To Aru Majutsu no Index, for making the most rational person a chain smoking loli. Soon, I will be thinking whether I will see Komoe smoke right in front of the screen with eroge behind her table. That will be freaking awesome.

Sing when you live. Sing wrongly, and DIE.

…and I ain’t even lying about it. Index told her to replicate her singing as it is part of the ritual to conjure the healing magic. If Komoe is unable to follow her accurately, the unbalanced forces in the magic will kill her. Despite the difficulties, Komoe is at least able to conjure the powers of the Undine.

To conjure the angel, you must sell your soul to the devil

So, they have this nice magic symbol that strangely looks like a satan symbol. My belief is that this magic thingy is based on traditional celtic magic. I could be terribly wrong, so someone with spoilers can spoil me on this later. In addition, it’s pretty ironic that Komoe is saying “cute angel” to envision the healing magic while they are actually conjuring a devil in disguise. Wonderful stuff there.

That’s the devil in disguise. Look at its wings, they are whitened!

Komoe was distracted after seeing the angel manifest itself partially. Due to her distraction, the angel dissipated. Index told her to continue on imagining an angel in her mind so that it will manifest in real life.

Oh, my dear, what big teeth you have.

Better to bite you, my chain smoking loli.

Long story short, the magic ritual was successful as enough mana was replaced in Index’s body. With that, the “John’s pen mode” was deactivated. With that, the serious Index is displaced by the normal Index.

I can’t wait to bite my Yuuji-kun… I mean Toma.

Index mumbles how she is happy that she will not cause Toma any more trouble, before slipping into unconsciousness happily.

You know, I was fully expecting Index to be a tsundere, but she turns out to be a rather dere-dere characterl. I am not complaining however. Most of the “lolish tsundere” characters in anime have turned out to be physically abusive and the dere-dere side is rather too weak to appreciate the character at all. So ya, Index is good stuff to appreciate.

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

HOW DARE YOU COMPARE MY WONDERFUL FLAT A-CUP CHEST with THAT index? They are DFC-certified!

Any educated viewer who does not watch To Aru Majutsu no Index will think that Toma is a bloody lolicon. By the way, my friends, this is a clear example on how you twist any evidence to your advantage. Whenever someone tells you that To Aru Majutsu no Index is a loli show, show them this screenshot and ask them.

“Who do you think is the loli here? *Hint* – only one of them is a real loli.”

See them baffle so badly and then laugh at their inability to decipher loli and pseudo loli. Remember, the whole point of arguing is to win, not to be correct.

You better appreciate me more later!

Komoe then showed why she is an adult by telling Toma to explain his relationship with Index. I mean, bringing a bloodied girl to a teacher in the middle of the night can be considered rather indecent behavior. Toma, as expected of a GAR character, sucks at lying. When I mean suck, I mean totally failing at lying to a chain-smoking pseudo loli that ends sentences with cute phrases.

Don’t get me wrong. I love Toma. In fact, I am glad that he is just about the only male protagonist in a shounen sort of series that has some spine. I mean, most of the lead guys in such type of series cannot wait to bend their back to pick up the soap, but god Toma makes sure that he is the one that shoves the soap into never-land.

After the conversation, Komoe told Toma she wants an answer because she has to make a report about this. She continues to convince everyone that she has to act maturely like an adult. In the end, she left to buy food for them, and mentions that she will forget about the whole incident when she returned. Of course she did, she only has time to think about food.

You know…

I actually hold a terrible secret. One that will scare men to their mothers… I have 13,000 BOOKS IN MY HEAD!

After Komoe leaves them, Index told the dreadful secret about the books in her head and what it means to have that knowledge (KILL THE WORLD, BLAH BLAH BLAH WITH MAGIC). Komoe fears that Toma will be scared away since she is a freak.

My god, Index, you are a bloody nerd.

It’s not my fault I love books so much. They are so nice to bite at.

Awww, why did you flick your hand on me? Now I have to make a moe face for great fanservice.

Of course the GAR Toma considers her worries to be BS. Anyway, his hand is deus ex machina so there is no worry at all. Index reminds him about his supplementary lessons to protect her. Toma tries to hide the fact that he sucks at studying, and Index got pissed off enough to bite him.

I actually find this part of the episode rather endearing as it really shows that Index is a very kind soul that shows her feelings outwardly. I will burn anyone with cold flames if they call Index a tsundere. She is hardly one at all… except the bites.

You know, Style, why does that stupid Impz refuse to take a screenshot of my face?

Of course, Style and another mysterious girl with extremely copious amount of bare skin looks on. Honestly, they are discussing about Toma’s powers, and he said that a normal person does not have the ability to destroy his Innocentus. Style seems jealous that the two are having fun together. Style also asked when they have to destroy that happiness again.

I promise not to spoil anyone about Style and the samurai girl’s role in this series.

Gee, I don’t know. Maybe because he wants to create a meme called LPL – Loli raped by Pedo Loli.

I had to do that. Sorry.

Coffee milk is in fact bad for health. Drink Milk Tea for a better alternative!

At night, Index goes with Toma to the public bath. Index mentions about how she lost all her memories. Toma was surprised and suddenly looked angry. Index asked whether it is his puberty, and Toma said that her DFC figure inspires zero erotic feel to give him those feelings. Toma also made fun of Index by saying that he is not looking forward to any shoujo romance with her. That made Index very annoyed, and she bit him again.

Honestly, I have no clue what is going on despite understanding the dialogue. That is why I am sounding so serious with a proper summary in this paragraph. In general, when I sound serious, it means I am clueless.

Is this the new age of “Tooth fetish.”

I think so.

And I finally appeared! Wait, the show is over? WTF!

Of course Index ran off by herself and left Toma alone. Suddenly, a barrier was set up…and the samurai girl appeared. Will Toma be leveled up to a woman-hitting man?

All right. Everyone who reads this blog for the last two years will know that I have an intrinsic dislike for mecha shows in general. However, the belated coming of Macross Frontier made me find my old love of robots firing hyper beams of energy at monsters. I used to watch the first Macross with glee. However, that was Macross Frontier. It is Gonzo with a mecha show. Will it suffer the mace of bane?

To Aru Majutsu no Index is described by the Grand Meister Totali to be a “Shana-like” series. I like Shana, so I should like this too. Right? RIGHTTTT? In addition, it is created by my beloved JC Staff and kept the crew of Shakugan no Shana for this. All the elements of total-win seems to appear in this series. Will it deliver though from the overbearing expectations I have of it?

The third part series of impressions is here.

Kurogane no Linebarrel

Summary

Koichi is a cowardly student that hates to be bullied, but never has the strength to resist. He is asked by three bullies to buy them buns. His friend, Risako, tried to protect him but he wimped out to purchase the buns for them. As he headed out, he suddenly saw a giant robot falling directly down to him. It then landed on him with a giant bang. When he woke up, he noticed that giant robot and a naked unconscious girl. Since it was obviously dangerous to stay, he brought the girl back to his home. The girl did not have any memories of herself. After seeing the Arma (a group of independent military specialists) causing carnage in the town, she said she had to fight those people.

As she ran, the ARMA was actually hunting for a robot. Koichi remembered how he always had to be safe by his friends and he was tired of this. Just at that moment, his male friend appeared again to help him. Fallen debris caused by the carnage of ARMA’s robots injured his friend, and Koichi suddenly summons superhuman powers to break the wall. The girl suddenly remembered who she is, and said that her name is Emi Kizaki.

She told Koichi to summon Linebarrel, and he did as that robot he saw earlier flew down from the sky. He then entered it and suddenly turned into a superhero to repel the men of Arma. The leader of this squadron wanted to fight Koichi more, but was told by his superior to retreat for now. After the battle, Koichi says he is no longer a weak person, but Emi told him the grave truth that he is no longer alive.

The good

I think that anime viewers are often negatively biased toward CG (look at the hate of Blassbeiter) and Gonzo is the type of animation company that tries to use it extensively. I have no complains about it and I found that it is not too annoying. In fact, it adds to the nice mecha battles in this episode. Graphic quality is perhaps pretty high, but with CG effects, it’s really hard to tell.

The story seems to have many interesting holes and gaps that might be interesting to pursue. Who are the ARMA? What is the Linebarrel used for? What is the reason for Linebarrel’s existence? Why is Koichi dead, yet still alive? There are many interesting plots that are waiting to be resolved.

The bad

Koichi is just destroyed by the pacing of the story. At the start of the day, he’s a whiny wimpy boy that does not fight back to bullies. Even when people try to protect him, he feels inferior and wimps out. Then, he becomes this cheerful boy that helps this girl in trouble. Then, after entering the robot, he suddenly becomes this superhero of justice that has no fear in him. After the battle, he turns into some psychotic midget. What the hell happened within 1 single day? THAT MAKES NO SENSE.

That adds on to the point that the story was moving way too fast. The pacing is totally off and instead of building excitement, I was shouting out WTF, WTF, WTF after every 30 seconds. Nothing made sense after 14 minutes and I wondered if that is a good or bad thing. It’s up to your discretion though.

Verdict: The show was by far average but the transformation of Koichi from wimpy, normal, totally heroic and eventually to a mental psycho within a single episode just makes it completely unbelievable. I am not sure if I can recommend this as yet, but there is some story potential here

To Aru Majutsu no Index

Summary

A boy named Kamijo Touma is running from a large mob, expressing how unfortunate his life typically is. Earlier, he tried to stop a guy from approaching Misaka Mikoto. He was actually trying to protect the mob from being assaulted by the thunder-conjuring Mikoto. Mikoto, after being annoyed by Touma, tried to fry him with her attacks. The next day, we see Touma complaining about his unlucky life as the electrical attack meant that the town suffered a power outage. When he goes to lay out his futon on the veranda, he is surprised to see a young nun laying on its railing. The girl says she is hungry. Touma makes fun of her by giving her a hot dog that he accidentally stepped on twice, and the girl devoured the food while sinking her teeth on his hand.

This girl later introduces herself as Index, explaining that she is being chased by sorcerers because of the magic book she is carrying. Touma does not believe in magic, despite believing in supernatural powers. That perplexed Index. Touma then mentions that his right hand has the ability to nullify any magical attacks. When he called it a gift from god, Index jeered at it and says that he is just boasting. Touma proved it by touching her magical shirt, and it degenerates. After being bitten everywhere by Index for an outrage of modesty, she leaves. Touma tells her to come back if she needs help.

Touma soon realizes that he needs to go to school. In class, their young teacher Tsukuyomi Komoe is conducting her lesson. When Touma’s friends trick Komoe into believing that Touma was not paying attention, Komoe cried. Touma laments about his unfortunate life. Touma is approached by Mikoto again in the afternoon, still wanting to settle her score with him. Touma ignores her as usual, but because of Mikoto’s actions during this threat, the two are forced to run from the nearby robots that have reacted to them. When he returned home, he saw the bloodied unconscious body of Index. It turned out that a sorcerer was the one causing that wound to Index.

The good

Where do I even start from? The OP has a distinct Shana feel to it, and that is a good thing to be referred to. Kurogane is the one that informed me that most of the crew working on Shana is back in this Index show and it makes me happy. A lot. The graphics for this series is also above average, but that is to be expected from JC Staff. They have often held a good standard for animation consistency. Nothing compared to the gods of Kyoto Animation, but they are fine as it is.

The characters are also very quirky and hilarious. I have been tired of the “I am the main male lead, and I am wimpy” type of shounen character in such action series. Touma knows how good he is, he complains and he is so fricking awesome with his sarcastic remarks. It might be a strange reference, but this is how I imagine a milder Kyon in an action series. That, by the way, is fricking awesome.

The girls are also wonderful in which they have unique personalities rather than the cardboard type of characters that plague many series. I also like the set up of the story, which leaves some things open while leaving the viewer in a climax. That is what I call an absolutely well done first episode.

The bad

I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this. If there is something I really have to nitpick, it is Mikoto. I didn’t enjoy her character too much, but it’s a very mild discomfort. Nothing too painful to endure.

Verdict: Very strong first episode. Unless you have some serious grudge against JC Staff, I see every reason for you to follow this series. This might be a winner.